Barista - Temporary

Barnes & Noble•Middletown, RI

17d

About The Position

A Barnes & Noble Barista is an integral member of the Café team, welcoming customers, answering questions, and helping them choose beverages and café items. The role supports attractive café presentation and efficient daily operations by stocking deliveries, maintaining the bakery case and dining area, and serving customers quickly and professionally at the register. Baristas are expected to demonstrate dependable attendance, flexibility, a positive and energetic approach, consideration for colleagues, cheerful customer service, and willingness to learn. They receive training in café operations and are expected to build proficiency in using store technology, merchandising, register operation, receiving and stocking deliveries, preparing food and drinks, cleaning, FIFO and product dating practices, loss prevention, and supporting the bookfloor team when needed. As experience grows, Baristas develop product knowledge across beverages, bakery, savory items, and gifting; maintain appealing displays; communicate promotions and sales objectives; make customization recommendations; and apply café safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures. The position involves physical activity, including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking. Baristas may work at other stores when able and when support is needed. The role offers a career path to Senior Barista as skills develop. Employees must comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

Reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Flexibility and responsiveness to store scheduling needs, including availability to fill scheduling gaps when able.
Positive, energetic, and reliable approach to assigned work.
Supportive and considerate collaboration with colleagues.
Cheerful, helpful customer service.
Aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and knowledge.
Enjoyment of working as a barista.
Ability to perform physical activity including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking.
Ability to work in other stores when able and needed.

Responsibilities

Welcome customers, answer questions, and help connect them with beverages and café items.
Maintain an attractive café presentation and support efficient café operations.
Unpack and stock deliveries and maintain the bakery case and dining area.
Operate registers to serve customers quickly, accurately, and professionally.
Use registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools efficiently.
Maintain café and retail fixture presentation through merchandising and cleaning.
Prepare food and drinks accurately using product information and recipe guides.
Complete daily and weekly café cleaning tasks during shifts.
Follow FIFO practices and date products consistently and correctly.
Support the bookfloor team when needed.
Follow loss prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques, identify theft or problematic behavior, and seek support as needed.
Develop knowledge of beverage, bakery, savory, and gifting products and use it to maintain appealing displays.
Share knowledge of promotions and key sales objectives with customers and colleagues.
Recommend food and beverage customizations to customers.
Use café training tools and apply safety, hygiene, and sanitation guidelines.
Comply with company policies and procedures.